Fireworks are expected at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground this Saturday as ExxonMobil and Demerara Distillers Limited’s (DDL’s) Pepsi, through the Petra Organisation, host the final showdown of their Under 14 schools’ football tournament.
A glimpse of the ExxonMobil-sponsored tournament action thus far
The tournament, which has been ongoing for the past five weeks, is set to culminate with some of the best youth football talents clashing in a matter of days. Proving that they are among the best in the girls’ contest were East Ruimveldt, who defeated New Campbellville Secondary 4-0 in the semi-finals, and Charlestown, who did the same against New Central High by a 1-0 margin.
For the boys, Ann’s Grove maintained their momentum to oust Cummings Lodge from a title defence with a 3-2 score, while Charlestown kept West Ruimveldt Secondary at bay after a 4-2 affair.
For Charlestown Secondary, Saturday’s finals will be twice as important, since they will be competing in both the boys’ and girls’ finales.
Teacher Ranole Bourne, following Charlestown’s victories in the semi-finals, highlighted that the teams’ success was a testament to their hard work and they would be prepared to do battle.
“The games were amazing. Well, both teams were very competitive on the day and Charlestown come out on top, victorious, because we put in more work,” Bourne shared with <<<Guyana Times Sport>>>.
The avid Charlestown supporter went on to add, “We know that it’s going to be tough, it’s not going to be a walkover. But we are prepared to go back to the drawing board, check to see where we went wrong and what’s not, and just come out and execute everything we put into practice over the week.”
“I know that we can go the extra mile, just like we did in the first year,” Bourne opined.
On the other hand, the East Ruimveldt girls are the only defending champions to have made it to the final after Cummings Lodge’s boys were knocked out in the semis.
Boasting about his team’s clean scoresheet in the tournament, Coach Selwyn Browne revealed that they planned for their semi-final opposition and would do the same for the final.
An elated Browne explained, “It’s always a pleasure, you know; we’re happy to be in the finals once again, despite all the odds. We’ve worked very hard and we will continue to work hard. I think at this game, make me understand that we have something to prove now in the finals and I think my girls are ready; send them.”
He noted in commenting on their semi-final victory, “It is the second time we met them in a semi-final. We played Campbellville last year and we beat them, so, we were mentally prepared. In fact, the first game for this tournament, we beat Campbellville 1-0.”
“So, our confidence is high and our girls are prepared for them,” Browne concluded.
Charlestown will battle East Ruimveldt in the girls’ final while Ann’s Grove will lock horns with Charlestown in the boys’ final.
